Meadow-ditching tool



scription; p

This invention has relation toearth worki an Patented Mar. 24, 1,925.

1,531,161 PATENT, OFFICE.

Jonn'rooMEY,. or oosczon,v oonN-Ecmmu'r;

MEADOW-DITCIHNG root.

Application m dii rn 19, e124 Beri'al at. 707,753.

To all whom it may comic fin:

Beit known thatI, JOHN TooMnY, a citi zen of the United States], and a resident of COSCObg in thecounty of Fairfie'ld and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Meadow-Ditching T001 of which the following-is a full, clear, and'exact de= ing tools and has particular" reference to a meadow ditching tool which is especially employed in mosquito; extermination work.

Thepri'ncipali object of the inventioni'e sides in the provision of a ditchingtool of the character set forthwhich is operable by oneman for the formation of ditches or trenches-fin meadow land;

The invention furthermore comprehends' a ditching tool which is extremely simple; yet strong and durable in its construction; which is inexpensive to inanufactu're and produce; which is highly eflicient in its purpose; and which is light in weight and capable of disassembly for convenience in handling and carrying when not in use.

iththe above recited and otherobjects in viewtthe' invention resides in the novel construction set forth in the following speeification," particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually illustrated herein to the full extent indicated by the gen eral meaning of the terms which the claims are expressed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front View of a tool constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. 1 Fig. 3 is a top plan View with parts. in section to disclose the underlying structure. F ii is a diagranunatic View illustrat ing the manner in which the trench 01' ditch is formed by the tool.

Referring to the drawings by characters 1 of reference the tool includes a cutting head. designated generally at 10 which is preferably constructed from a length of steel bent in U-form to provide a pair of spaced vertical parallel blades 11 joined at their upper end by abight 12. The blades 11 are formed at their free ends with downwardly converging oppositely disposed cutting edges 13, the upper endof which edges terminate an appropriate distance below nals 27 for the handle member.

the bight.

thehight ortconnecting portion 12 whereby thehead is formed with parallel side edges '14 of apwidth approximately equal to the distance between the blades 11. The bight 12 and the upper portio11- of the blades 11 are reinforced by a rib or strip 15' disposed exteriorly'thereof. A continuous reinforc ing band 161s disposed between the blades 11; the lower edge 17 of said band being in alignment with the juncture ofthe cutting edges 13 and? parallel side edges'll. A relatively narrower external, continuous reinforcing band 18 embraces theblades '11 and ithefreinforcin rib or strip 1'5,"the upper edge of the band 18 being parallel withthe upperedge-of the band 16. The band 16 is provided with axially aligned apertures 19 immediately below the lower edge of the exterior band 18 fora purpose to be hereafter s gforth; The band 16, the blades 11 and the reinforcing rib or strip 15 are provided with aligned apertures 20 immediately below the lower edge of the external band 18 for receiving therethrough a rod 21 which is designed to project outwardly at its opposite ends from the side faces of the blades to provide a transverse foot rest on each side of the'tool head. In order to retain the-rod 21 in place against lateral and rotary movement, a pair of substantially semi-circular embracing lugs 22 project laterally from the band 18 and have threaded therethrough set screws 23. A bail-shapedhandle 24. providing resilient side legs 25 which are connected at their upper ends by a bight 26 is provided and the lower free ends of the side legs 25 are turned inwardly to form attaching termi- The attaching terminals 27 are designed to be inserted in the aligned apertures 19 in the band 16 and in order to provide means for retaining said tern'iinals iu the openings 19 a longitudinally extending strip 28 is attached to the under side of the bight 12 of the toolhead, the opposite ends 29 there of projecting forwardly and rearwardly of One side edge ofeach end 25) is formed with abayonet slot 30 which receives and maintains the legs 25 against their normal inherent tendency to separate, thus retainingthe attaching terminals 27 positioned within the openings 19.

In use and operation of the tool the operator after. attaching the handle 24 forces the lower pointed free ends of th blades 11 into the ground by standing upon the foot rest afforded by the rod 21 so that the 0 erators wei ht is im in 'ed on the P c P 2:

tool head. When the bladeshave been inserted into the round, the operator by grasping the handle 24; and reciprocating the same to swing the blades 11 forwardly and rearwardly eventually cuts the ground or turf the full width of the widest portion of the blade. It should be noted that the lower forward edge 17 of the band 16 contacts with the ground or turf and marks the same. The operator then withdraws the tool from the ground and inserts the same at a right angle to the first mentioned cuts, usingthe mark made by the edge 17 as a gage for the insertion of the tool transversely to the ditch which is being formed where the operation is repeated. It will thus be seenthat by a succession of longitudinal and transverse cuts as illustrated in the diagram in Fig. 4, a number of squares of the ground or turf will be cut away, after which a suitable tool is employed for severing the blocks or squares at the bottom and removing the same to produce the ditch. It will be further observed that when the tool is to be carried or transported, the handle 24 may be readily removed and if desired the rod 21 withdrawn for the purpose.

I claim: 1 i

1. A one-man meadow ditching tool comprising a cutting head constructed from alength of material bent upon itself in inverted U-form to provide spaced parallel cutting blades connected at their upper end by a bight, a transversely disposed rod extending through the blade portions of the head adjacent their connecting bight to provide a foot rest projecting outwardly beyond the outer sides of the blades, means for retaining the foot rest against axial or rotary movement, a detachable handle carried by the head, and means arranged transversely of the blades for marking the ground, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a meadow ditching tool a cutting head including spaced parallel cutting blades connected at their upper ends by a bight and having downwardly converging oppositely disposed cutting edges, inner and outer reinforcing bands embracing the blades, the inner band having apertures, a bail-like handle having inwardly projecting trunnions at the free ends of its legs, means carried by the bight of the cutting head and engageable with the legs of the handle for retaining the same in upwardly projecting relation to the cutting head, and laterally projecting foot rests carried by the cutting head for impinging thereon the operators weight whereby to force the blade into the ground and to retain the same in place while permitting of oscillation of the head by the handle to make the cut of a uniform width throughout its length.

8. In a meadow ditching tool a forked cutting head defining a pair of parallel blades each having downwardly converging cutting edges at the opposite sides thereof, foot rests on the cutting head and a rigid handle projecting upwardly from the cutting head whereby the operator may stand upon the foot rests and oscillate the cutting head to cause the cuts to be made of a uniform width throughout their depth as and for the purpose specified,

JOHN TOOMEY. 

